Common Goldeneye, Lake Musconetcong, NJ, Feb. 16, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).

Common Goldeneye (COGO) is not a typical winter waterfowl visitor to Morris County lakes. A high count of 43 on the 1992 Boonton Christmas Bird Count is an anomaly as most year’s totals are in the single digits, if there are any at all. The species certainly occurs annually but in small numbers and at single locations. Yesterday, a report of 3 COGO drakes at Washington Pond in Wharton was eBirded by Cathy Millington. The COGO were not found this morning in Wharton but trips to various Morris lakes show a pattern of a virtual mini-invasion of COGO into the county.

• At mostly frozen Lake Musconetcong a female Common Goldeneye swam and fed in the northeast section of the lake.
• The three COGO of Wharton may have transplanted to Budd Lake. There were three drakes there this morning.
• The southern end of Boonton Reservoir showed 3 COGO drakes and two hens.

Morris Lake summaries:
Lake Musconetcong – 1 female Common Goldeneye, 2 Common Mergansers, 5 Bufflehead, 77 Ring-billed and 2 Herring Gulls, etc. A small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds roosting in a tree continue the gradual movement of Icterids into northern New Jersey after being virtually absent all winter. Furnace Pond in Netcong was nearly empty, surprisingly, with 3 Am. Coot, 10 Ring-necked Ducks and 2 Bufflehead.

Budd Lake – As it has been for weeks, the southwest shore is open, the remainder of the lake is frozen. Where there were over 2,000 Canada Geese there a few weeks ago, there are none now. At least the waterfowl are visible. The drake Redhead continues. Here are the totals:
American Wigeon – 7
Am. Black Duck – 10
Northern Pintail – 16
Redhead – 1 drake
Ring-necked Duck – 35
Lesser Scaup – 15
Bufflehead – 2
Common Goldeneye – 3 drakes
Hooded Merganser – 5
Common Merganser – 35
American Coot – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 100
Herring Gull – 20

Mt. Hope Lake is entirely frozen.

Boonton Reservoir – most of the waterfowl and gulls were viewed from the south end at Waterview Plaza on Rt. 46. This is NOT an easy location to view from.
Northern Pintail – 1
Ring-necked Duck – 20
Scaup sp. – 20
Bufflehead – 12
Common Goldeneye – 5 (3 drakes; 2 hens)
Common Merganser – 55
Ring-billed Gull – 27
Herring Gull – 5

Lake Parsippany – mostly frozen with the center portion thawed.
Mute Swan – 3
Ring-necked Duck – 55
Lesser Scaup – 9
Bufflehead – 2
Hooded Merganser – 1
Ruddy Duck – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 30
Herring Gull – 6